The Takeaway: Lester beat in big spots_BINARY_1024345

Monday

May 20, 2013 at 11:24 PM

CHICAGO -- After repeatedly chastising himself for the 2-0 cutter he left in the middle of the plate to Adam Dunn in Monday's first inning, Jon Lester offered up a reasonable epitaph for the end of Boston's five-game winning streak

Tim Britton

CHICAGO -- After repeatedly chastising himself for the 2-0 cutter he left in the middle of the plate to Adam Dunn in Monday's first inning, Jon Lester offered up a reasonable epitaph for the end of Boston's five-game winning streak.

"It was just kind of one of those nights," the left-hander said.

"One of those nights" was the easiest way to digest a game in which the White Sox scored all six of their runs on two-out hits. Indeed, all but one of Chicago's hits came with two outs.

It started in the first. Lester quickly retired the first two White Sox of the game before yielding a ground ball up the middle to Alex Rios. He lost command against Paul Konerko -- who came in 10-for-23 off Lester -- in a five-pitch walk.

That brought up Adam Dunn, all of 2-for-29 with 14 strikeouts against left-handers this season. Lester was trying to stay away from Dunn with something he might pop up or fly out to left. His 2-0 cutter did not match that description.

"I ended up leaving a guy who's got stupid pop a cutter over the middle, and he did what he's supposed to with it," Lester said. "That changed the momentum of the game."

In the second, Lester allowed a trio of two-out doubles to Tyler Greene, Alejandro De Aza and Alexei Ramirez. Even so, he could live with those hits.

"I'll give them the second inning," he said. "Subtract the first; that's the one it comes back to that's the most frustrating."

Dayan Viciedo got to Lester for another run-scoring hit with two outs in the fifth, winning a nine-pitch battle. Lester just tipped his cap.

"I threw probably the best cutters I've thrown all season, and he just kept fighting them off," Lester said. "They did a good job of staying with that and making me battle a lot."

In all, the White Sox had seven two-out hits in 13 at-bats against Lester. How outlandish is that? Coming into Monday, Lester had given up 14 two-out hits in 73 at-bats all season.

Lester with two outs entering Monday

Lester with two outs on Monday

This goes back to what we've talked about before with Lester and strand rate. His performance in clutch spots (out of the stretch, RISP, etc.) was poor to the point of aberration last season; it's been much better (and more in line with his career track record) this season. But there are still nights when all the hits come bunched and when they all happen to bring runners home.

Lester on the season had held opponents to a .143 average (6-for-42) with runners in scoring position (compared to .213 with nobody on). Monday, the White Sox were 4-for-17 (.235). With RISP, though, they were 4-for-7 (.571).

What's the conclusion, then? Well, that it was just one of those nights.This was one of those starts Lester had to grind through without his best stuff (evidenced in part by the two strikeouts and three walks). He didn't. As he himself admitted after the game, was bound to lose eventually. The things that had gone his way before Monday didn't at U.S. Cellular.